Game apparatus.



G. C. ANDERSON.

GANLE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1917.

Patented June 18, 1918.

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G. c. ANDERSON.

GAME APPARATUS.

APFLICATION FILED MAYHL1917- I v 1,269,995. Patented June 18, 1918-.

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GEORGE ANDERSON, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

GAME APPARATUS.

T (ZZZ whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, GEORGE C. ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Sangamon and State of Illinois, have invented a new and u eful Game Apparatus, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

The game apparatus to be hereinafter described, is designed for use in playing a game which I have devised and which I have named Super 500. To save repetition in the description of the game Super 500 will be hereinafter designated as,the game.

The apparatus comprises broadly a gameboard, a rotative member which I call a super, a series of trays, a series of color plaques, a series of movable posts, and other appurtenances; all to be hereinafter described.

The game is designed for the instruction and entertainment of children and adults.

A color scheme is utilized as an interesting feature of the game. The color scheme comprises various arrangements of colored trays on the game board, each tray having a determinate value to be counted in the score; and an orderly arrangement ofthe same colors on the plaques held by the respective players.

The score posts or indicators also are of different colors and each color on the posts has a significance which will be explained later.

The purposes of the invention are :to provide a game-board comprising a series of removable colored trays, each tray having a color value and a scoring value; to provide trays of improved construction; to provide a rotative and tiltable element called super adapted to carry spherical counters to be discharged upon the tilting of the super; to provide a column to support the rota-tive super; to provide a pit adapted to receive and support the super in a vertical position after it has discharged the spheres and left the column and adapted to receive spheres dropped from the tilted super and falling within an area approximately the same as the area bounded by the circumference of the super; to provide a series of color plaques each showing all the colors of the trays and each having scoring fields; and to provide, for use with the plaques, a series of players posts or inclicators adapted to be easily and quickly ap- I Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 1111618, 1918, Application filed May 10, 1917. Serial No. 167,689.

plied on the different scoring fields ofthe Fig. 2 is a'vertical sec X. of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is plaque; Figs is .a perspecof one detached tray; Fig.5 is a the full andv complete and the trays in place developed plan of a blank from which the tray is formed; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one set of movable posts or indicators, Fig. 7 is a conventional graphical showing of the colors used on the trays, the plaques and the posts; and Fig. 8 is a perspective sectional View of a super of modified form.

The same reference numerals designate the same parts in the difierent views.

A light box 1, of any suitable material, contains the triangular trays 2, preferably of stiff bri'stol board or similar light, flexible and slightly springy material. The trays are-preferably arranged in the box in the order shown, and are preferably colored as indicated; it is to be understood however, that the color scheme admits of the useof variable colors for the trays and the arrangement of the trays in variable relation to each other, so that many various combinations of colors may be attained, according to the fancy of the user.

Exceptas to size and color, the trays are all. alike, so a description of one will sufiice for all. i

In order that the trays may be produced in large numbers at relatively small cost for material and labor, and ,in order that the trays may be mailable in the flat in bundles", at a low cost for transportation, each tray will be formed from a blank of bristol board or other thin light material suitable for the purpose.

Each blank (Fig. 5), comprises a triangular centralmember 3; outside members 4%,

and intermediate members 5 separated by 'V- shape spaces 6. At the junctures of the members are lines of minute perforations 7 which weaken the material so that the blank may be easily bent along the lines to give proper form to the tray.

Dies of usual well known construction (not shown) will be usedto cutthe blanks from sheets of suitable material and perforate the blanks at one operation; hesive strips 8 are attached to one end of eaehvmembera an'd .when the blank is bent to complete the tray, the member 3 will be the bottom of the tray; be. the sloping walls of the tray; and the members' rwillbe the vertical walls'of the tray.- Whi-in'the members are disposed in proper relationto each other the free parts of thestrips-8 will'be attachedto the ad jacent ends of the respective memberst, thus completing the tray.

Th e'base 9 is preferably a circular block of whi'te pine, or other light material, and has a circular-depression 10,- called the pit. A 'circular'column 12 is central to the base "andhas a circumferential-Pledge 13' and-a central bowl-shape depression 14. The ledge 13 serves to keep;themember 15 in an approximately vertical position so that the uppermost letter on the periphery of the member? 15 may be'noted after the member hasceasedto' rotate and hasslid into the pit "10'."

The circular super body 15 isprefer ably-of wood and preferably has a series of pockets '18 adapted to accommodate one sphere 19in each pocket. Instead of having one pocket for each sphere, the body 15 may have a central hub 15 'and a circular groove 15, the parts being so proportioned that five spheres in the groove-will completely surround the hub, as shown in Fig. 8. The spheres 19 maybe of any suitable-material, The-uses ofthe spheres will be-explained later.

A handle 16 central'to the body 15 has a conical "spindle 17 adapted to rotate in the depression 1 1 when the handle is used to rotate the body 15'.

A rectangular spacer 20, preferably of cardboard, surrounds the base 9 and fills the space between thebase and the adjacent trays, so as to prevent displacement of the trays.

T he color plagues.

A plurality of color plaques, one for each player, I are accessory to the game board already described which comprises a super adapted to carry five counters, and trays displaying ten colors. I Only one plaque, exhibiting ten colors, is shown but it is to be understood that a number of plaques, one for each player, may be used with a singlegame board. The color plaques are all alike, soa description of one will suflice' for all.

Each combination plaque and score card is'preferably a thin board 21 of white pine, or other 1 light and soft material, into which the pins of the posts'26, 27 and 28 maybe the members 5 will easily pressed and from which they may be easily. withdrawn.

I have illustrated a combination plaque and-score card showing fields of pleasing forms conveniently arranged, but it is to be understood that the forms and colorsof-the fields and the positions of the fields of the plaques-may be-varied to suit each particular case, without departure from my invention. The color fields 22 exhibit the colors, black, brown, red, etc., shown conventionally in the respective fields; the super fields'23 display the respective letters S. U. P. E. R.- which together spell the title-word Super of the game Super 500. The apparatus is obviously adapted for playing othergames in which combinations or permutations of colors enter as elements, and in such'cases the fields 23 may contain other letters or symbols characteristic of the game which is being played.

The'credit field 25 contains numbers 1 to 10 inclusive adapted to indicate the number'of-credits which have been won by the holder of the plaque. The tally field 24 comprises aunits section containing units 0 to 9 inclusive, and a tens section containing tens-1 to-5 inclusive, and tens-and units together, as indicated by the two gilt posts 26 in the tally sections, exhibit the-number of points tallied in that field up to fifty, and as often asfifty points are thus scored inthe tally field the silver post 28in the credit field 25 will be advanced one number.

Aplurality of movable posts (Fig. 6) of different'colors, in the present instance gilt, white and silver respectively, are accessory to the apparatus. Each apparatuswill' be equipped with a sufiicient number of posts so that each holder of a plaque may besupplied with two gilt tally-posts-26; one for the units section and one for the tens section of the tally field; one white super-post 27; and twosilver posts 28, one for the color fields and one for the credit field.

Each post-hasa cylindrical body and'a sharpened pin 29 which may be easily pressed into the bodyofthe plaque to keep the post in upright position on the plaque. To play the game, each player will be supplied with a plaque anda sufficient number of posts- The white post indicates the letter selected by him in his super field; one silver post indicates on the 'colorfields the colorselectedbyhim, and the other silver I postindicates his credits in the credit field, and the'two gilt tally posts indicate his tally in the tally field. After each serving of the super, the person serving will give to the holderof each plaque who has correctly'sur post 28 will be stuck in the numeral inthe credit field to show in that field that the holder of the plaque is entitled to seven points in the field; a gilt post 26 will be stuck in the numeral 3 of the tens section of the tally field 24: to show that the holder is entitled to three tens (80 points) in that section of the tally field; and another gilt post will be stuck in the numeral 8 of units seo tion of the tally field; the reading will then be, 350 points in the credit field plus points in the tens section of thetally field, plus 8 points in the units section of the tally field, making 388 points in all.

At the outset each player will stick his white post 27 in that letter of the word SUP-ER on the plaque which he surmises will be uppermost on the periphery of the super 15 after the super has discharged the counting spheres and has come to rest in an approXim-atelyvertical position in the pit 10; next he will stickhis silver post 28 in any one of the colors on the plaque which he surmises will be the color of the tray, or trays 2, in which one or more of the counting spheres 19 will finally lodge. Then the player who has thefirst turn will placethe five counter spheres, one in each of the five pockets 1 8 01" the super, and will place I the super on the column 12 with the spindle 19 in the depression 14:, and will'use the handle 16 to rotate, the super on the column.

Skill in serving the super may be acquired with a little practice, keeping in mind that a slow even spin is desired. Too violent ro-' tatlon of the super Wlll causethe counting spheres. to fly out of the box.

Upon serving the super its rotary force will gradually diminish and-the super will begin to wabble, so that at irregularintervals'from timeto' time, the spheres19 will leave the pockets 18 and will usually roll into the trays 2; but occasionally a sphere or spheres will drop into the pit 10; and when the super ceases to rotate it will leave the column 12 and drop into the pit and come to rest in an approximately vertical position as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, and they uppermost letter on the periphery of the super, while it is in that position, will be the winning letter and will count 20 points in the score of the player who has placed his white post 27'on that'letteron his plaque. After each serving of thesuper the player serving will score a-number of points in the tally field equal to thesum of the numerals of the trays containing counting-spheres.

Progressive plug ing,

To play the game progressively, a suitable unuinber of tables willibe'provided. The

1 be at each table, each playing for'himself, I p or there may be at each table, vfou-rpersonscredits each counting fifty points, or 350 two couplesplaying partners. If five persons to the table,}the playerhaving the highest score at the end of eachften servings of the superwill advance to the head table and make the next ten servings of the super, and so on in suceession. i

i If playing partners, four persons to the table, the partners at" eachtable having the highest combined score at the end of each eight servings of the super will advance to another table, according. as their combined score compares with the highest coinbined score of the couples at the othertables, that is to say: the two couples having the two highest combined scores at the close of each eight servings of thesuper will advance to table number one, the two couples having,

the two next highest scores will go to table number two, andso on as long as the playing continues.

Gout/ting.

holding the plaque has a white post 27 on one letterrand giltposts 26"on'all the other letters and when he has that the silver post in the credit field will be; advanced, two

credits in that field.

One'color may be chosen in advance by the holder of each plaque and if it is among the winning-colors at that serving it will count five points, and when ten successful color selections have been made by the player, he

' will be entitled to 50 points, that is to say one credit in the. credit field.v All the players, except the one-who. in his turn is servingthe super, count only'five points for each winning color; but if: the server chooses in advance one of the colors winning at his serving, he will be entitled to five points for thewinning color I and an additional number oflpointsj equal to the sum of the numerals in the trays receiving counters at that serving; and if there be a counter or counters in the pit, each will count .ten

points in favor of the server. I

Adaptations.

1; a apta il ty 7 f. the ap -paratus for,

playing other games analogous to Super 500,

inwhich colors andletters have a counting value has already been mentioned. One example of such adaptation will now be described. The modified game to be played will be called Rainbow, and the colors having a counting value will be the ten colors shown on each plaque. The letters, SU-PER also will have a counting value, but the tally fields 24 and the credit field 25 will not be used in playing rainbow. At the outset each player will be supplied with one color plaque, onewhite post 27 to mark the letter of his choice immediately before each serving of the super and vone silver post 28 to mark the color of his choice immediately before each serving of the super. Each player will serve the super in his turn, as already described, and will award a gilt post 26 to each player who has set his silver post 28 on a winning color determined by the color of a tray in which a counter rests; and will also award a gilt post to each player who has set his white post 27 on the winning letter, that is to say, the letter which is uppermost on the member 15 when it comes to rest in its approximately vertical position. The player who first obtains a gilt post on every letter SUP-E-R, or.who first obtains a gilt post on every color on theplaque, will. win the rainbow.

,Other adaptations which will readily occur to skilled players need not be detailed here.

.CZaims.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A gameapparatus.comprising a box; a column within the box; a member adapted to rotate on the column. and having a number of pockets adapted to. contain counters and having title letters on its periphery; and a series of trays adapted to receive counters discharged from said pockets during the rotation of said rotative member.

2. In a game apparatus, the combination of a base having a pit; a column central to the pit; a counter-carrying member adapted to rotate and wabble on the column and adapted to come torest in an approximately vertical position in the pit upon cessation of the rotation of said counter-carrying member.

3. In a game apparatus, .the combination of variously colored trays v a counter-carrying member adapted to rotate andwabble to discharge counters into the trays; plaques each having fields ofthe same colors as the trays; and means for indicating selectively chosen colors on the plaques.

4. In a game apparatus, the combination of variously colored trays; a counterecarrying member having letters' of counting value, and adapted to rotate and wabbleto discharge counters into the trays; plaques each having the same letters as the countercarrying member, also having fields of the same colors as the trays; and means for indicating selectively chosen letters and selectively chosen colors on the plaques.

5. In a game apparatus, the combination ofvariously colored trays; a counter-carrying member having letters of counting value and adapted to discharge counters into the trays; plaques each having the same colors as the trays and the same letters as the counter-carrying member; and means for indicating on the plaques selectively chosen letters, selectively chosen colors and the tally of the holder of each plaque.

I 6. Aplaque for game apparatus having color fields, title-letter fields, a tally field and a credit field; in combination with trays of the same colors asthe color fields in the plaque; and a counter-carrying member adapted to discharge counters into the trays.

7. In a game apparatus, the combination of plaques each having color fields, letter fields, a tally field and a credit field; trays of the same colors as the color fields of the plaques; a rotative counter-carrying member adapted to discharge counters into the trays; and movableindicators adapted to indicate on the respective plaques the tally resulting from the distribution of'the counters into the trays.

8. .A plaque for game apparatus, comprising a plurality of fields, each different from any other; in combination with a plurality of indicators adapted for selective placing on the plaque to indicate, at any stageof the game,.the exact score of the player using the plaque.

9. In a game apparatus, the combination of a plaque providedwith color fields and letter fields each having a counting value,

also provided with a tally field and a credit field; a distinctive indicator for indicating on a color field the players selection of color; a distinctive indicator for indicating on a letter field a letter selected by the player; and distinctive indicators for indicating in the tally field and the credit field the exact score of the player at any stage of the game.

10. In a game apparatus, in combination with a series of colored trays adapted to re ceive counters, and means for distributing counters indiscriminately in the trays; a

combination plaque and score card exhibiting the same colors as the trays; and characteristic tally-devices complemental to the combination plaque and score card and settable in different positions thereon to show the exact score of the holder thereof at any stage of the game, independently of pencil and paper. or other extraneous tally-device.

11. A combinati n plaque and scorecard for game apparatus,- comprising Various In Witness whereof I have hereunto signed fields of counting value, in combination with my name at Springfield, Illinois, this 5th 10 characteristic tally devices idapted to be day of May, 1917.

placed selectively in fields o the combina- 9 tion plaque and score card to show the exact GEORGE ANDERSON score of the holder thereof, at any stage of Witnesses:

the game, independently of any extraneous S. ALLYNN TRoxnLL, tally-device.

W. S. TROXELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

